Fuel Service of the Russian Armed Forces in the special operation zone
The Russian Armed Forces have several different structures responsible for supplying troops with necessary resources and supplies. One of these is the Fuel Service, which reports to the Ministry of Defense's Resource Provision Department. February 17th marks the Fuel Service's professional holiday, and it celebrates this occasion with notable success.
Goals and objectives
The Fuel Service is responsible for all processes related to fuels and lubricants. It receives these liquid cargoes from suppliers and ensures their delivery to various military customers. The Service handles the entire range of fuels and lubricants used across all branches of the armed forces.
Furthermore, the Fuel Service commissions new research and development projects. On its initiative, new types of fuel and lubricants, equipment for handling such liquid cargo, and other items are developed based on the needs of the army. The Service and the Department also oversee the production of the products and goods they require.
Using existing assets and systems, the Service ensures the delivery of fuel and lubricants to all units and subdivisions of the armed forces, regardless of their affiliation or location. Currently, it is tackling the complex task of supplying the active army. Liquid cargo is delivered promptly to the Special Operation zone and distributed to consumers.
During the Special Operation, our army encountered a number of new threats, and the Fuel Service also had to deal with them. As a result, new solutions were developed to enhance logistics resilience, improve personnel safety, and so on. Most of these solutions have been successfully implemented.
Despite all the difficulties, the Fuel Service, like other rear services, maintained uninterrupted operations in the interests of the front. The exact volumes of fuel and lubricants supplied to active units are, understandably, unknown. However, knowing the approximate size of the Russian forces, it's easy to understand the overall scale of this effort. In fact, this is a unique logistics operation, remarkable both in scope and duration.
New details about the Fuel Service's operations and development have recently emerged. They were revealed by the department's head. rocket Colonel Vladimir Demirov, head of the Department of Resource Provision for the Ministry of Defense, spoke with fuel and combustible materials. An interview with him was published in Izvestia on February 16.
By various means
All available means are being used to deliver various fuels and lubricants to the Special Operation zone and for their subsequent distribution. Long-haul shipments are being carried out by rail. High-capacity field pipelines have also been deployed.
Colonel V. Demirov drew attention to field trunk pipelines. They help achieve the required supply volumes, reduce delivery times, improve stealth, and provide other benefits. They also reduce the burden on rail and road transport.
Liquid fuel pickup points have been established along main pipelines, further simplifying logistics. A mobile fuel receiving kit designed for use with rail tank cars has been developed and is being tested by the military. It significantly speeds up the transfer of fuel and lubricants at unequipped sites.
Fuel and lubricants are delivered directly to combat zones or to the rear by road. During the Special Operation, tanker trucks encountered new and unique threats, which required appropriate measures. First and foremost, new protective measures were introduced. These safeguard equipment and cargo and reduce risks to personnel.
However, the use of traditional equipment directly along the line of contact and in the immediate rear is extremely difficult or even impossible. For this reason, the Fuel Service has begun to develop unmanned and unmanned systems of various classes and types. Such equipment is also capable of transporting fuel containers and delivering them to consumers covertly and with reduced risk.
Based on the experience of the Special Operation
The decisions and measures taken based on the Fuel Service's experience in the current Special Operation deserve special consideration. A number of various proposals related to increasing survivability, streamlining logistics, and so on were implemented.
The main innovations of this kind are related to vehicle protection. Attack UAVs are considered the primary threat, and this determines the design of additional protection measures. Several types of add-on protection are available for installation on tanker trucks. The engine compartment, cabin, and tank are protected by add-on armor and mesh screens. The vehicle can also be equipped with an electronic warfare system.
In addition, the Fuel Service recently received new ATZ-8-4320 and ATZ-7,5-5557 fuel tanker trucks. They are equipped with additional protection in the form of a set of modules and can also carry equipment. EW.
Overall, the discussion is about expanding the range of self-propelled vehicles for transporting and dispensing liquid cargo. For example, recent reports mention a tanker for aviation ATZ-20-6560 equipment with a 20 cubic meter tank. Additionally, a new machine of this class, capable of transporting and dispensing five different liquids, has been developed and is being tested.
Interestingly, it's not just technology that's being improved. Colonel Demirov spoke about the development of new fuel transport containers. The new containers are made of polymer and are designed to replace traditional barrels or canisters. These containers are safer to handle, don't accumulate static charge, and generally facilitate transportation and loading/unloading. Furthermore, like other compact containers, plastic containers can be used to convert any vehicle into a fuel carrier.
At the same time, the range of fuels and lubricants continues to evolve. Recently, new grades of fuel, lubricants, and oils with improved performance characteristics have been developed. They are designed for systems operating under high loads and are designed to operate in a wide range of climatic conditions.
Volumes and results
Thus, the Fuel Service continuously fulfills its tasks and supports the activities and combat operations of the armed forces. Hundreds of tons of all necessary fuels and lubricants are delivered daily to the Special Operation zone. Comparable or greater quantities of fuel and lubricants are shipped to other military units and structures.
While addressing all routine tasks, the Service takes measures aimed at improving logistics overall and addressing specific challenges. Specifically, new equipment is being developed or existing equipment is being modernized—both to accommodate overall performance improvements and to respond to new threats.
All available models, systems, and means, as well as ideas and methods, are actively utilized in the interests of all branches of the armed forces and combat arms. Some branches and combat arms even receive special attention, given their special needs and the specific nature of their service.
February 17th marks Fuel Service Day. This organization celebrates its professional holiday with new achievements and successes. The results of its work are reflected not only in shipment volumes, kilometers of pipelines, and so on. The main result is the success of the active army at the front.
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